NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2014
Dear Member
The days are lengthening as the 2014 sailing season draws closer. Let us hope the weather gods favour us again this year.
Dredging Work is continuing more or less on schedule, despite the recent storms, on both the maintenance dredge of the Hafan and the capital dredge for the new sailing academy. The bund has been constructed to hold the dredged material boats are being moved around to allow the dredger 24/7 working. Completion of the Hafan dredge is expected for Easter with the Academy dredge and associated shore work June 2014.
It is too soon to know the full effect of the winter storms have had on the harbour entrance yet, but your Committee will continually review matters. A land based dredge is likely as the Council is likely to need the material from this area to help repair the storm damage to the beach dunes.
Fuel supplies from the Hafan Over the winter your Committee became aware that the fuel supplied by the Hafan was no longer to Marine specification as recommended by the RYA and engine manufacturers and berth holders had not been advised accordingly. Concerns were raised with Wil the Hafan Manager, Barry Davies and Llyr Jones from the Maritime Office and several meetings held. To date the matter has not been resolved to the satisfaction of your Committee. Attached is a copy letter from Barry Davies with the Hafan position outlined.
The main concern is with the type of fuel now supplied is that it is not recommended for use by sea going vessels but is suitable for machinery, tractors and canal/lake boats. In a lay mans terms the fuel supplied may contain up to 7% of bio which can have a detrimental effect on engines and fuel supply systems, particularly if the fuel is stored for over 3 months before use. In the winter the Hafan stores fuel for longer periods than this and many boat owners fill the tanks prior to the winter to minimise the absorption of water. The problems associated with fuel containing bio are: -
The use of suitable fuel additives together with increased maintenance will mitigate the effect of such fuel. It is recommended that you contact your engine manufacturer to obtain their recommendations.
The position of your Committee is: -
I would point out that Barry Davies letter (much of which we disagree with) states that tests made of the fuel in the Hafan tanks do not show anything adverse, but fuel which contains up to 7% bio may be supplied in the future without notice.
We hope to see you at the AGM and following finger buffet over the Easter weekend.
Best regards
David Dewsbury
Chairman
PMBHA
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Correspondence from Davies Barry (ECON A CMND)
Dear David,
Thank you for your e-mail regarding the sale of red marine diesel at Pwllheli.
I must emphasise that the identical fuel is stored and sold to mariners at Aberdyfi; Abermaw; Porthmadog and Hafan Pwllheli. My enquiries have demonstrated that the fuel is also sold at all marinas and harbours in North West Wales. I am not aware of any quay or marinas that supply any other type of marine fuel.
The relatively new grade of diesel fuel; the Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel or ULSD that has a content of only 10 parts per million of sulphur will have to be used by many leisure vessels and yachts after the 14th January, 2011.
I am informed that the reduction of sulphur will not harm the majority of existing boat engines but some boat engines will require the use of an additive to make up for the loss of the new marine fuel’s lubricating effect. Mariners are strongly recommended to enquire with their engine manufacturer whether an additive is needed. The additive has been available for sale at Hafan Pwllheli for a number of years.
As you will be aware, much of the new fuel, which may be the road diesel dyed red will, however, contain a proportion of FAME – Fatty Acid Methyl Ester. This is a bio-fuel obtained from renewable sources intended to reduce consumption of the world’s limited oil supply. It can, however, affect some marine diesel engines. The use of diesel fuel containing FAME has been known to increase the problems of‘bugs’ in tanks thereby possibly causing blocked filters, break-down to acids leading to engine equipment damage and leakage from fuel component seals. The storage life of fuel with FAME is also much reduced and mariners should seek advice as to the length of time diesel should be stored unused in a vessel’s fuel tank. This is especially important during the winter period when vessels are stores ashore or afloat unused. It is important for diesel to be used and not stored for a lengthy period of time.
The Department of Transport stated that up to 75 per cent of the new fuel may be free of FAME but this cannot be guaranteed. We have been aware that FAME-free fuel would have become unavailable in some areas of the UK and sourcing FAME free red diesel has proven to be very difficult especially in the quantities used in Gwynedd. I am hopeful that the oil industry will (or may have available) produce a map showing the areas where FAME-free diesel can be bought. To date, our enquiries have not been successful in identifying a suitable supplier.
The red diesel supplied to harbours and marinas can contain up to 7% FAME. The fuel at Hafan Pwllheli was tested in January 2014 following observations and concern by the PMBHA. The sample was tested by Fuel Additive Science Technologies Ltd.
The result of the sample sent for testing demonstrated that the red diesel supplied at Hafan Pwllheli contained 0.1% of FAME. The test reported ‘No microbial growth’ and the quality of the diesel was classed as ‘excellent’ by the laboratory.
We will continue to seek suppliers that can deliver relative small quantities of marine red diesel to our harbours.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Barry Davies
Barry Davies
Swyddog Morwrol a Pharciau Gwledig
Maritime and Country Parks Officer
*******************
Correspondence from RYA
Your Marina operator states that the fuel is compliant with BS2869:A2 this means it is low-sulphur, but may contain biofuel. The only way to ensure that it does not contain biofuel is to meet the ISO8217 standard as well
Regards
Stuart
Dear Member
The days are lengthening as the 2014 sailing season draws closer. Let us hope the weather gods favour us again this year.
Dredging Work is continuing more or less on schedule, despite the recent storms, on both the maintenance dredge of the Hafan and the capital dredge for the new sailing academy. The bund has been constructed to hold the dredged material boats are being moved around to allow the dredger 24/7 working. Completion of the Hafan dredge is expected for Easter with the Academy dredge and associated shore work June 2014.
It is too soon to know the full effect of the winter storms have had on the harbour entrance yet, but your Committee will continually review matters. A land based dredge is likely as the Council is likely to need the material from this area to help repair the storm damage to the beach dunes.
Fuel supplies from the Hafan Over the winter your Committee became aware that the fuel supplied by the Hafan was no longer to Marine specification as recommended by the RYA and engine manufacturers and berth holders had not been advised accordingly. Concerns were raised with Wil the Hafan Manager, Barry Davies and Llyr Jones from the Maritime Office and several meetings held. To date the matter has not been resolved to the satisfaction of your Committee. Attached is a copy letter from Barry Davies with the Hafan position outlined.
The main concern is with the type of fuel now supplied is that it is not recommended for use by sea going vessels but is suitable for machinery, tractors and canal/lake boats. In a lay mans terms the fuel supplied may contain up to 7% of bio which can have a detrimental effect on engines and fuel supply systems, particularly if the fuel is stored for over 3 months before use. In the winter the Hafan stores fuel for longer periods than this and many boat owners fill the tanks prior to the winter to minimise the absorption of water. The problems associated with fuel containing bio are: -
- Bio fuel absorbs a higher amount of water with associated problems with fuel systems and engines.
- Adverse effect on seals used in fuel systems.
- Reduced lubricant properties increasing wear on fuel and engine systems.
The use of suitable fuel additives together with increased maintenance will mitigate the effect of such fuel. It is recommended that you contact your engine manufacturer to obtain their recommendations.
The position of your Committee is: -
- Correct fuel type is available from present supplier and others at no extra cost.
- Suppliers local storage has moved from Pwllheli to a 3rd party supplier located in Portmadog. This party has insufficient storage capacity for marine fuel.
- Hafan will not consider a low cost increase in fuel capacity from 22,000 litres.
- Potential safety and increased wear issues regarding the supply of fuel not suitable for sea going marine use.
- Hafan supplying fuel which has been stored for longer than recommended without suitable additives and therefore may not be “fit for purpose”.
I would point out that Barry Davies letter (much of which we disagree with) states that tests made of the fuel in the Hafan tanks do not show anything adverse, but fuel which contains up to 7% bio may be supplied in the future without notice.
We hope to see you at the AGM and following finger buffet over the Easter weekend.
Best regards
David Dewsbury
Chairman
PMBHA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondence from Davies Barry (ECON A CMND)
Dear David,
Thank you for your e-mail regarding the sale of red marine diesel at Pwllheli.
I must emphasise that the identical fuel is stored and sold to mariners at Aberdyfi; Abermaw; Porthmadog and Hafan Pwllheli. My enquiries have demonstrated that the fuel is also sold at all marinas and harbours in North West Wales. I am not aware of any quay or marinas that supply any other type of marine fuel.
The relatively new grade of diesel fuel; the Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel or ULSD that has a content of only 10 parts per million of sulphur will have to be used by many leisure vessels and yachts after the 14th January, 2011.
I am informed that the reduction of sulphur will not harm the majority of existing boat engines but some boat engines will require the use of an additive to make up for the loss of the new marine fuel’s lubricating effect. Mariners are strongly recommended to enquire with their engine manufacturer whether an additive is needed. The additive has been available for sale at Hafan Pwllheli for a number of years.
As you will be aware, much of the new fuel, which may be the road diesel dyed red will, however, contain a proportion of FAME – Fatty Acid Methyl Ester. This is a bio-fuel obtained from renewable sources intended to reduce consumption of the world’s limited oil supply. It can, however, affect some marine diesel engines. The use of diesel fuel containing FAME has been known to increase the problems of‘bugs’ in tanks thereby possibly causing blocked filters, break-down to acids leading to engine equipment damage and leakage from fuel component seals. The storage life of fuel with FAME is also much reduced and mariners should seek advice as to the length of time diesel should be stored unused in a vessel’s fuel tank. This is especially important during the winter period when vessels are stores ashore or afloat unused. It is important for diesel to be used and not stored for a lengthy period of time.
The Department of Transport stated that up to 75 per cent of the new fuel may be free of FAME but this cannot be guaranteed. We have been aware that FAME-free fuel would have become unavailable in some areas of the UK and sourcing FAME free red diesel has proven to be very difficult especially in the quantities used in Gwynedd. I am hopeful that the oil industry will (or may have available) produce a map showing the areas where FAME-free diesel can be bought. To date, our enquiries have not been successful in identifying a suitable supplier.
The red diesel supplied to harbours and marinas can contain up to 7% FAME. The fuel at Hafan Pwllheli was tested in January 2014 following observations and concern by the PMBHA. The sample was tested by Fuel Additive Science Technologies Ltd.
The result of the sample sent for testing demonstrated that the red diesel supplied at Hafan Pwllheli contained 0.1% of FAME. The test reported ‘No microbial growth’ and the quality of the diesel was classed as ‘excellent’ by the laboratory.
We will continue to seek suppliers that can deliver relative small quantities of marine red diesel to our harbours.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Barry Davies
Barry Davies
Swyddog Morwrol a Pharciau Gwledig
Maritime and Country Parks Officer
*******************
Correspondence from RYA
Your Marina operator states that the fuel is compliant with BS2869:A2 this means it is low-sulphur, but may contain biofuel. The only way to ensure that it does not contain biofuel is to meet the ISO8217 standard as well
Regards
Stuart